October 2018 Grocery Challenge

JingsMyBucket

luckofthe_irish wrote: »

I have made the fatal mistake of not labelling any of my freezer meals, so it will be a surprise dinner! Anyone have ideas for cheap and easy freezer labels to help a girl out?!

I tend to use white masking tape and a Sharpie marker. The masking tape will stay on while in the freezer but will still peel off easily once you're done with it.

pamsdish wrote: »

8 days now incapacitated with back spasm, still can`t stand for more than a few minutes, the only plus is can`t shop either.

That is horrible. Have you been able to feed and take care of yourself properly?

Save_Dosh wrote: »

Anyone got any good oat bar recipes.

You actually just reminded me. I meant to make this oat bar recipe this week but I've been too wrapped up in work: https://iowagirleats.com/2018/09/18/maple-pumpkin-oatmeal-breakfast-bars/. If you don't have those ingredients, she has a bunch of other variations on her blog as well. Blueberry, banana, etc.


Today I spent €6.98 at Delhaize for a bag of spinach, raspberries, an avocado, and some grapes.

TOTALS SO FAR:
€103.91 / €300.00
3/12 NSDs

I've noticed that I have almost no waste so far this week. :T Wednesday night is trash, paper, and compost night and I don't have enough in the trash bin to put it out! The compost will go out tomorrow morning though. This has got me thinking about my shopping habits; that I'm buying out of habit rather than out of need. Also maybe that because there are (usually) two of us, I may think "Oh it'll get eaten" but really it doesn't? Hrm, more to ponder. I do still have to get to Lidl tomorrow or Friday for the detergent though. I did a load of laundry today and realized how low we were.

pamsdish

Thanks all for your sympathy, turned the corner yesterday afternoon, when I have a spasm, it usually lasts 24 hrs of pain, I lie flat on my back on my bed trying to get everything aligned, wheatbags pain killers ibuprofen, and when desperate diazapam, then a day or two of being careful, I have never had over a week before, had a treatment of Bowen therapy on Tuesday and was told it`s better not to get immediate improvement, so just over 24 hrs before starting to feel less pain on standing, hopefully will continue improving, food has been whatever I could get, something on toast featured heavily. Thanks for all your support and commiserations. xx

K9sandFelines

£4.67 to add from spends at work last night - got five boxes of Oat Breaks (which i love), sultanas x 2, golden syrup, digestive bars and potatoes all on YS.

Of to Aldi this aft with Dad, hoping i only need coffee (go through this alot as have Cold Brew machine; but it's my only luxury), carrots, milk, courgettes and grapes. Going to try not to go mad :rotfl:. On Thursdays as of next week, so Dad will have to grab bits for me in future weeks or i will have to do without!

pamsdish

After my earlier post did some shopping at my local Aldi, needed a few bits to last me over next 10 days before my hols, bought a bottle of ginger gin liquer which is 2 things I am very fond of, see how they mix. total spends £33.14, just about managed pain wise, resting now before get a few, very few, jobs done.

CRANKY40

I was going to leave shopping until tomorrow but decided I didn't fancy joining the Friday morning rush so I went today instead. I started off in Aldi then went to Asda for the stuff I couldn't get in the first shop. £51.07 spent which is more than I wanted but I am hoping not to go again until a week on Tuesday.

I cut the grass in the back and tidied the garden when I came home. I still have some tomatoes in a tub on the windowsill which I'm using as they turn red. It'll be strange having to buy them again as it's been lovely just picking them from the garden. The last of the blackberries are picked and in the freezer - I made jam the other week with what I had up until then. I used apples from next door's tree in the jam too and it's lovely.

I just write on containers with a sharpie when I'm putting stuff on the freezer. Whatever you write comes off in hot soapy water (usually) if you use one of those non scratch pan scrubber things. Yesterday I made Twink's Hobnobs but put a little dent in the top of each biscuit and added a quarter teaspoon of home made jam. They're lovely!

Glad to hear you're improving pamsdish

elsiepac

Those oat bars look yummy Jings! Easily veganisable too...

I had a bargain last night - was wandering stupidly through my big Mr T and happened to go by the reduced meat section - where there was randomly 4 boxes of Vivera Pulled Veggie (it's basically vegan pulled pork) and it's usually £2.99 a pack - they were reduced to 75p each so I bought all 4 and froze them for treat meals! Score! I haven't actually tried that one before as didn't want to pay that price (however I'll vouch that their Veggie Burgers are well worth the price tag!) so not sure how to make it into a meal but I don't have plans to use it just yet!

I am SO SKINT for the rest of this month till the 26th... Will just need to get a little creative with meals but I have a lot in the freezer so I'll be far from struggling!

JingsMyBucket

You're very welcome @elsiepac. I think I'll try making them this weekend. @pamsdish, I'm glad you're a bit more mobile now. Your injury sounded so isolating.

Today was accidentally a NSD. I've been glued to my desk the whole day and just finished several client calls, way past 7pm. Whew. I'm taking a quick break and will get back to work in a bit. Tomorrow I'm determined to head to Lidl, if anything just for the exercise and to get out of the house!

TOTALS SO FAR:
4/12 NSDs
€103.91 / €300.00

[Deleted User]

Thanks Jings for the oat bar recipes - they look really lovely. Elsie let us know what the Vivera taste like, not had any of that range.



No spends for me - still living out of stores. The curried leak & potato turned out lovely - accidentally turned into a chunky mash, as the potatoes I used were very starchy, so had them with veggie bangers n onions & gravy.

XSpender

Visited Mr T last night for the last few bits for our weekend away, packed lunches, milk, fruit and beer (GF and ordinary). £36.28 spent which puts me over my budget £370.19/£360.

We have plenty of food in and a lot of veg to use up before we go on holiday next Saturday so I am determined not to go into a supermarket until we get back and then only for milk and fruit and beer for DH.

I made ginger cake yesterday morning. I haven't made it for ages and it is so nice. Also made oat based energy bars for the walk and a pasta bake. I reheated the pasta bake for tea, it was OK if a little dry but as we got to eat at half 8 at least I didn't need to start cooking then!

medsdemon

NSD yesterday.

Decided to get my bits in for the weekend today. Spent £11.26 in aldees. Now need to work out what I’m cooking.

I think I’ll make an omelette of some kind with chips and salad one night, a sausage meatball pasta dish one night and and a chickpea curry and rice and poppadoms the other. I also have bits in for nacho’s.

I could make a spicy lentil soup in the SC for next week for OH’s lunches and maybe a couple of lentil shepherdless pies for his teas.

I’ll see !!

I’m now going down to visit my mum next week for a few days so OH will be buying and fending for himself and I’ll be doing the same. Not sure how this will work out spending wise. I might cook a couple of things for him to just pop in the oven and heat up and some lunches with what I have in else he’ll not use them up and they’ll probs get wasted.